Oily hair is pretty hard to manage! It may often look unkempt and difficult to style, so it’s best to get rid of it. But how? Did you know that oily hair can also be a part of you? Just as oily skin can be a part of you, you can’t always “fix” it, but there are some homemade tips to reduce oily locks.

What Causes Oily Hair?

To start, you should first know the cause behind oily hair. Greasy hair is often a result of over secretion from the sebaceous glands. The skin’s pores contain sebaceous glands, as do the pores of the scalp. These glands, called oil glands, are responsible for maintaining proper moisture retention by secreting sebum or oil. It is the sebum that gives hair its healthy luster. Therefore, this sebaceous gland is necessary, but excessive sebum secretion can cause hair to become greasy.

1) Eat a Balanced Diet That Includes Healthy Fats and Carbohydrates

Studies have shown that our foods affect our sebaceous glands and secretion. Higher amounts of fat and carbohydrates in the diet increase sebum secretion from the sebaceous glands. On the other hand, calorie restriction has been shown to decrease the rate of sebum secretion dramatically.

So, is it easy to reduce fat and limit carbohydrate calories? No. However, choosing the right fats (healthy fats such as ghee or coconut oil) and carbohydrates can probably achieve a better balance of oil-producing sebaceous glands. Since Western diets contain more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids, maintaining this balance can lead to a healthy diet with a 2:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3. This will inturn reduce the amount of oil produced in the scalp, which leads to greasy hair.

2) Apple Cider Vinegar

People with oily hair may often suffer frommalassezia overgrowthmalassezia overgrowth, which is a fungus that occurs naturally on the scalp. It is a naturally occurring fungus, but it can cause gray hair and inflammation of the scalp when it gets out of hand. This can also cause dandruff.

Fortunately, apple cider vinegar kills fungus and bacteria, making it an excellent home remedy for oily hair. Although it is one of the most popular natural remedies, you don’t need to use a lot of apple cider vinegar, as it can become aggressive if too much is applied to the scalp or hair.

Simply dilute a few tablespoons with a glass of water and apply to your hair. A spray bottle makes it easy to apply thoroughly to the roots and scalp; rinse after 2 to 3 minutes. Apply 2-3 times a week.

3) Witch Hazel as an Astringent for the scalp

Even if you have never thought of an astringent for your hair, you may need one. Astringents constrict the body’s tissues (usually the skin) and, in the case of oily hair, can close the pores a bit and make them less oily.

Now that these oils are needed, they should not be done too often, just a few times a week is fine. Witch hazel helps remove grease, and a few drops of witch hazel mixed with water applied to the hair will give it the boost it needs. Applying the astringent directly to the scalp before shampooing will significantly reduce the greasiness of the scalp and hair.

4) Tea Tree Oil

Certain essential oils can produce desirable results. Tea tree oil is known to inhibit acne, but it also regulates sebum production. When sebum is overproduced, it combines with dead skin cells and clogs the pores. This can cause various skin problems, such as acne on the scalp and cystic acne. In addition, tea tree oil has antibacterial properties that reduce bacteria and help reduce or eliminate fungus.

Other essential oils such as lemon, bergamot, and eucalyptus are known to be useful. Adding a few drops to your conditioner can significantly help or you may even make your own natural conditioner for better results.

Do you have any other homemade remedies for oily hair? Share it with us in the comments below!